How?

Queer Futures 2 is a large national UK study, taking place across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, over the course of three years. The main purpose of the study is to identify and evaluate early intervention mental health support and services for LGBTQ+ young people. The study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and will produce NHS Commissioning Guidance.

What does the project involve?

Our research study will have three stages. First, we will examine the international research on mental health services for LGBTQ+ young people to understand what type of services seem to work best for LGBTQ+ young people and will improve their mental health.

Second, we will search for all early intervention mental health services across the UK that have been developed for LGBTQ+ young people. These services are not just clinical services such as CAMHS but will also include education based provision, youth service support, peer support services and online services.

Thirdly, we will choose 12 of the services we have found and ask the LGBTQ+ young people, their family/carers and staff from these services about what works and what does not in improving LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health, and how we can improve mental health services.

How will the research be used?

Our project aims to produce research that will improve the provision of mental health support for LGBTQ+ young people when they first start experiencing mental health problems. We will also produce guidance for the NHS so they can develop mental health services that LGBTQ+ young people feel safe to use and that meet their needs.

COVID-19 Update

We are mindful as a research team that these are extraordinary times and recognise many people will be involved in dealing with the Covid-19 virus. We will be working remotely to continue our important study on LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health.

We would like to express our gratitude to all staff at every level of the NHS and other vital services during this time, for the work you are doing to protect our friends, families and loved ones.